Perianesthesia Nurses Week

Perianesthesia Nurses Week

Perianesthesia Nurses Awareness Week (PANAWA), celebrated over February 1st through February 7th in 2021 is hosted by the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses. It honors the nearly 60,000 who practice in all phases of preanesthesia and postanesthesia care, including those who are in permanent, temporary and travel nursing jobs.

There are lots of ways to celebrate and take advantage of this week to educate nursing colleagues, as well as people throughout your community about the importance of care delivered by hard-working perianesthesia nurses (PACU Nurses) everywhere. Those who work in the field might just inspire someone else to embark on this career, while facilities can help boost morale by recognizing the efforts of their perianesthesia nurses.

Ways to Celebrate Perianesthesia Nurses

Whether you’re a travel nurse working on assignment or a permanent staff member, these are just a few of the ideas for celebrating your special week.

  1. Wear and display official PANAWA items to help increase the public’s awareness of the life-sustaining practices you give.
  2. Form a team to help turn ideas into action.
  3. Celebrate with a special lunch or dessert each day during this special week.
  4. Set up a table with literature and products focused around perianesthesia nursing.
  5. Send out announcements via emails, newsletters and employee publications.
  6. Talk about what you do at local meetings and schools. You can stop in to visit a local nursing school or even a high school to tell students what it’s like being a perianesthesia nurse.
  7. Spread the word on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
  8. Take time to honor yourself as burnout is very common throughout the healthcare industry. Even if it’s just for a few hours, do something you enjoy, like reading a good book, taking a stroll on the beach or indulging in a spa treatment.

Access unadvertised PACU travel nursing jobs

How to Inspire Others to Become a PeriAnesthesia Nurse

Think about why you love your job if you’re a perianesthesia nurse. For example, being able to participate in an anxious patient’s surgical experience as a knowledgeable professional. You can be a great source of care and compassion when a person is at their most vulnerable. By combining your extensive medical knowledge and caring personality, you ensure that your patients wake up from anesthesia in a safe and relaxing environment, something that can be very rewarding.

If you’re excited about what you do, it’s easy to inspire others to consider the field for themselves.

Benefits of Being a Perianesthesia Travel Nurse

Benefits include flexibility, great pay and the opportunity to see and experience areas of the country you might not be able to otherwise. Perianesthesia travel nursing allows you to take on various challenges to help advance your career.

What Perianesthesia Nurses Do

Anesthesia is a serious medication that requires a trained professional to monitor a patient when they’re coming out of a surgical procedure. That’s why this nursing role is so crucial – perianesthesia nurses (PACU Nurses) work with patients who are unconscious due to anesthesia, caring for them until they regain consciousness. They have to be prepared to handle adverse reactions such as breathing problems, confusion, pain and/or vomiting. These nurses also must prepare patients for their surgery by providing education on the process and recovery following surgery in addition to educating family members. Oftentimes that includes giving advice as well as reassurance to patients that are apprehensive.

Nurses in perianesthesia help to care and guide individuals through some of the most traumatic times of their lives. They work in hospital settings, outpatient centers, surgery centers, GI clinics and anywhere else there is a need for nursing care and anesthesia.

If you’re thinking about becoming a perioperative nurse, there are certain personality traits that can be crucial to success in this role, including the ability to think quickly, be personable and upbeat even in difficult situations, stay organized and remain calm during an emergency.

Learn more about PACU travel nursing jobs

How to Become a Perianesthesia Nurse

To become a perianesthesia nurse, you’ll need to obtain your Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) through an accredited college or university. Afterward, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become licensed. A minimum of two years’ experience is generally required to be hired as a perianesthesia nurse. You’ll need experience working in a hospital setting on an acute care floor such as the ER, ICU or a similar type of unit working with more complex patients.

Perianesthesia nurses everywhere, this special week is your time to be honored and to shout out about what you do!

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